Influences of Django

Django Festival & co

André Ekyan

1907-1972
André Ekyan – A French Saxophone Player
The 1940s and 1950s.
Georg Lankester

It is within French jazz that one finds some of the earliest evidence of European voices establishing themselves on the saxophone. The contributions which André Ekyan (1907-1972) and Alix Combelle (1912-1978) made to the musical genius Django Reinhardt in the late 1930s are clearly informed by their literate enthusiasm for such American masters as Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter and - above all - Coleman Hawkins. In their recordings one finds altoist Ekyan and tenorist Combelle preparing cultured pathways for the elegancy and bite of their American confreres. (Quote from: European Voices - Michael Tucker (in: Masters of Jazz Saxophone)). George Lankester, guitar player and expert in pre-war French jazz history has made an introduction the the 1930s career of Andre Ekyan in Andre Ekyan - A French Saxophone Player: The 1930s and today he'll point you to the post-war years in a contribution: Andre Ekyan - A French Saxophone Player: The 1940s and 1950s.
With the Quintette du Hot Club de Jazz ( in the middle:Django Reinhardt.)
In September 1941 he made two great recordings with his Hot Club Quintette, with Django Reinhardt on the guitar. One of the most swinging tunes is Hungaria, influenced by the music of Hawkins and Carter. Enjoy it: